The Best Restaurant in East Coast and the Volcanic Zone, New Zealand

Background Illustration for Restaurants

Rotorua has the area's most diverse dining scene. You can order anything from Indian to Japanese fare, or, for true local flavor, try a M?ori h?ngi (a traditional meal cooked in an earth oven or over a steam vent). Hawke's Bay is another hot spot; its winery restaurants emphasize sophisticated preparations and food-and-wine pairings. Around Eastland, which is so laid-back it's nearly horizontal, the choices are simpler, and you'll be treated with the area's characteristic friendliness. One thing you won't find on any menu is fresh trout. Laws prohibit selling this fish, but if you catch a trout, chefs at most lodging establishments will cook it for you.

Dressing up for dinner, or any other meal, is a rarity, expected at only the most high-end lodges and restaurants.

Capers Epicurean

$$$ Fodor's Choice

The pleasing scent of spices may entice you into this large, open restaurant. Half of the space is a delicatessen that sells preserves and specialty foods, such as chutney made from kūmara (a local sweet potato) and a rub made from kawa kawa (a spicy native herb).The menu follows the seasons and is continually changing (always posted on the website); there are also seasonal events. After you eat, wander to the dessert cabinet and choose from goodies like the chocolate-cherry frangipani tart.